第17章

WhydidInottrytocalmher？Ihadvainlytriedtocalmher——I

whoknewwhohermotherwas，andwhathermotherhadbeen。

Atlast，shehadforcedthesenseofmydutyonme。Thesimplestwayofcalmingherwastoputherbackintheplacebymysidethatshehadleft。Itwasuselesstoreasonwithher，itwasimpossibletoanswerher。IhadmyownideaoftheonewayinwhichImightcharmEunicebacktohersweeterself。

"LetustalkofPhilip，"Isaid。

Thefierceflushonherfacesoftened，theswellingtroubleofherbosombegantosubside，asthatdearly—lovednamepassedmylips！Buttherewassomeinfluenceleftinherwhichresistedme。

"No，"shesaid；"wehadbetternottalkofhim。"

"Whynot？"

"Ihavelostallmycourage。IfyouspeakofPhilip，youwillmakemecry。"

Idrewhernearertome。Ifshehadbeenmyownchild，Idon’tthinkIcouldhavefeltforhermoretrulythanIfeltatthatmoment。Ionlylookedather；Ionlysaid：

"Cry！"

Thelovethatwasinherheartrose，andpoureditstendernessintohereyes。Ihadlongedtoseethetearsthatwouldcomforther。Thetearscame。

Therewassilencebetweenusforawhile。Itwaspossibleformetothink。

Intheabsenceofphysicalresemblancebetweenparentandchild，isanunfavorableinfluenceexercisedonthetendencytomoralresemblance？Assumingthepossibilityofsucharesultasthis，Eunice（entirelyunlikehermother）must，asIconcluded，havebeenpossessedofqualitiesformedtoresist，aswellasofqualitiesdoomedtoundergo，theinfectionofevil。While，therefore，Iresignedmyselftorecognizetheexistenceofthehereditarymaternaltaint，Ifirmlybelievedinthecounterbalancinginfluencesforgoodwhichhadbeenpartofthegirl’sbirthright。Theyhadbeenderived，perhaps，fromthebetterqualitiesinherfather’snature；theyhadbeencertainlydevelopedbythetendercare，thereligiousvigilance，whichhadguardedtheadoptedchildsolovinglyintheMinister’shousehold；andtheyhadservedtheirpurposeuntiltimebroughtwithitthechange，forwhichthetranquildomesticinfluenceswerenotprepared。Withthegreat，thevitaltransformation，whichmarkstheripeningofthegirlintothewoman’smaturityofthoughtandpassion，anewpowerforGood，strongenoughtoresistthelatentpowerforEvil，sprangintobeing，andshelteredEuniceunderthesupremacyofLove。Loveill—fatedandill—bestowed——butlovethatnoprofanationcouldstain，thatnohereditaryevilcouldconquer——theTrueLovethathadbeen，andwas，andwouldbe，theguardianangelofEunice’slife。

IfIamaskedwhetherIhaveventuredtofoundthisopiniononwhatIhaveobservedinoneinstanceonly，IreplythatIhavehadotheropportunitiesofinvestigation，andthatmyconclusionsarederivedfromexperiencewhichreferstomoreinstancesthanone。

Nomaninhissensescandoubtthatphysicalqualitiesaretransmittedfromparentstochildren。Butinheritanceofmoralqualitiesislesseasytotrace。Here，theexploringmindfindsitsprogressbesetbyobstacles。ThatthoseobstacleshavebeensometimesovercomeIdonotdeny。Moralresemblanceshavebeentracedbetweenparentsandchildren。While，however，Iadmitthis，Idoubttheconclusionwhichsees，ininheritanceofmoralqualities，apositiveinfluenceexercisedonmoraldestiny。Thereareinherentemotionalforcesinhumanitytowhichtheinheritedinfluencesmustsubmit；theyareessentiallyinfluencesundercontrol——influenceswhichcanbeencounteredandforcedback。

Thatwe，whoinhabitthislittleplanet，maybethedoomedcreaturesoffatality，fromthecradletothegrave，Iamnotpreparedtodispute。ButIabsolutelyrefusetobelievethatitisafatalitywithnohigheroriginthancanbefoundinouraccidentalobligationtoourfathersandmothers。

Stillabsorbedinthesespeculations，Iwasdisturbedbyatouchonmyarm。

Ilookedup。Eunice’seyeswerefixedonashrubbery，atsomelittledistancefromus，whichclosedtheviewofthegardenonthatside。Inoticedthatshewastrembling。NothingtoalarmherwasvisiblethatIcoulddiscover。Iaskedwhatshehadseentostartleher。Shepointedtotheshrubbery。

"Lookagain，"shesaid。

ThistimeIsawawoman’sdressamongtheshruhs。Thewomanherselfappearedinamomentmore。ItwasHelena。Shecarriedasmallportfolio，andsheapproacheduswithasmile。

CHAPTERXLI。

THEWHISPERINGVOICE。

ILOOKEDatEunice。Shehadrisen，startledbyherfirstsuspicionofthepersonwhowasapproachingusthroughtheshrubbery；butshekeptherplacenearme，onlychangingherpositionsoastoavoidconfrontingHelena。Herquickenedbreathingwasallthattoldmeoftheeffortshewasmakingtopreserveherself—control。

Entirelyfreefromunbecomingsignsofhurryandagitation，Helenaopenedherbusinesswithmebymeansofanapology。

"Prayexcusemefordisturbingyou。Iamobligedtoleavethehouseononeofmytiresomedomesticerrands。Ifyouwillkindlypermitit，Iwishtoexpress，beforeIgo，myverysincereregretforwhatIwasrudeenoughtosay，whenIlasthadthehonorofseeingyou。MayIhopetobeforgiven？How—do—you—do，Eunice？

Haveyouenjoyedyourholidayinthecountry？"

Euniceneithermovednoranswered。Havingsomedoubtofwhatmighthappenifthetwogirlsremainedtogether，IproposedtoHelenatoleavethegardenandtoletmehearwhatshehadtosay，inthehouse。

"Quiteneedless，"shereplied；"Ishallnotdetainyouformorethanaminute。Pleaselookatthis。"

Sheofferedtometheportfoliothatshehadbeencarrying，andpointedtoamorselofpaperattachedtoit，whichcontainedthisinscription：

"Philip’sLettersToMe。Private。HelenaGracedieu。"

"Ihaveafavortoask，"shesaid，"andaproofofconfidenceinyoutooffer。Willyoubesogoodastolookoverwhatyoufindinmyportfolio？IamunwillingtogiveupthehopesthatIhadfoundedonourinterview，whenIaskedforit。Theletterswill，Iventuretothink，pleadmycausemoreconvincinglythanIwasabletopleaditformyself。Iwishtoforgetwhatpassedbetweenus，tothelastword。Tothelastword，"sherepeatedemphatically——withalookwhichsufficientlyinformedmethatI

hadnotbeenbetrayedtoherfatheryet。"Willyouindulgeme？"

sheasked，andofferedherportfolioforthesecondtime。

Amoreimpudentbargaincouldnotwellhavebeenproposedtome。

Iwastoread，andtobefavorablyimpressedby，Mr。PhilipDunboyne’sletters；andMissHelenawastosaynothingofthatunluckyslipofthetongue，relatingtohermother，whichshehaddiscoveredtobeaseriousactofself—betrayal——thankstomyconfusionatthetime。IfIhadnotthoughtofEunice，andofthedesolateandlovelesslifetowhichthepoorgirlwassopatientlyresigned，IshouldhaverefusedtoreadMissGracedieu’slove—letters。

But，asthingswere，Iwasinfluencedbythehope（innocentlyencouragedbyEuniceherself）thatPhilipDunboynemightnotbesowhollyunworthyofthesweetgirlwhomhehadinjuredasIhadhithertobeentoohastilydisposedtobelieve。Toactonthisviewwiththepurposeofpromotingareconciliationwasimpossible，unlessIhadthemeansofformingacorrectestimateoftheman’scharacter。ItseemedtomethatIhadfoundthemeans。Afairchanceofputtinghissinceritytoatrustworthytest，wassurelyofferedbytheletters（theconfidentialletters）whichIhadbeenrequestedtoread。TofeelthisasstronglyasIfeltit，broughtmeatoncetoadecision。I

consentedtotaketheportfolio——onmyownconditions。

"Understand，MissHelena，"Isaid，"thatImakenopromises。I

reservemyownopinion，andmyownrightofaction。"

"Iamnotafraidofyouropinionsoryouractions，"sheansweredconfidently，"ifyouwillonlyreadtheletters。Inthemeantime，letmerelievemysister，there，ofmypresence。Ihopeyouwillsoonrecover，Eunice，inthecountryair。"

Iftheobjectofthewretchwastoexasperatehervictim，shehadcompletelyfailed。Euniceremainedasstillasastatue。Toallappearance，shehadnotevenheardwhathadbeensaidtoher。

Helenalookedatme，andtouchedherforeheadwithasignificantsmile。"Sad，isn’tit？"shesaid——andbowed，andwentbrisklyawayonherhouseholderrand。

Wewerealoneagain。

Still，Eunicenevermoved。Ispoketoher，andproducednoimpression。Beginningtofeelalarmed，Itriedtheeffectoftouchingher。Withawildcry，shestartedintoastateofanimation。Almostatthesamemoment，sheweaklyswayedtoandfroasifthepleasantbreezeinthegardenmovedheratitswill，liketheflowers。Iheldherup，andledhertotheseat。

"Thereisnothingtobeafraidof，"Isaid。"Shehasgone。"

Eunice’seyesrestedonmeinvacantsurprise。"Howdoyouknow？"

sheasked。"Ihearher；butIneverseeher。Doyouseeher？"

"Mydearchild！ofwhatpersonareyouspeaking？"

Sheanswered："Ofnoperson。IamspeakingofaVoicethatwhispersandtemptsme，whenHelenaisnear。"

"Whatvoice，Eunice？"

"ThewhisperingVoice。Itsaidtome，’Iamyourmother；’itcalledmeDaughterwhenIfirstheardit。Myfatherspeaksofmymother，theangel。Thatgoodspirithasnevercometomefromthebetterworld。Itisamock—motherwhocomestome——somespiritofevil。Listentothis。Iwasawakeinmybed。InthedarkIheardthemock—motherwhispering，closeatmyear。ShallItellyouhowsheansweredme，whenIlongedforlighttoseeherby，whenI

prayedtohertoshowherselftome？Shesaid：’MyfacewashiddenwhenIpassedfromlifetodeath；myfacenomortalcreaturemaysee。’Ihaveneverseenher——howcan_you_haveseenher？ButIheardheragain，justnow。ShewhisperedtomewhenHelenawasstandingthere——whereyouarestanding。Shefreezesthelifeinme。Didshefreezethelifein_you？_Didyouhearhertemptingme？Don’tspeakofit，ifyoudid。Oh，notaword！

notaword！"

AmanwhohasgovernedaprisonmaysaywithMacbeth，"Ihavesuppedfullwithhorrors。"HardenedasIwas——oroughttohavebeen——theeffectofwhatIhadjustheardturnedmecold。IfI

hadnotknownittobeabsolutelyimpossible，ImighthavebelievedthatthecrimeandthedeathofthemurderesswereknowntoEunice，asbeingthecrimeandthedeathofhermother，andthatthehorriddiscoveryhadturnedherbrain。Thiswassimplyimpossible。Whatdiditmean？GoodGod！whatdiditmean？

Mysenseofmyownhelplessnesswasthefirstsenseinmethatrecovered。IthoughtofEunice’sdevotedlittlefriend。Awoman’ssympathyseemedtobeneedednow。Irosetoleadthewayoutofthegarden。

"Selinawillthinkwearelost，"Isaid。"LetusgoandfindSelina。"

"Notfortheworld，"shecried。

"Whynot？"

"BecauseIdon’tfeelsureofmyself。ImighttellSelinasomethingwhichshemustneverknow；Ishouldbesosorrytofrightenher。Letmestopherewithyou。"

Iresumedmyplaceatherside。

"Letmetakeyourhand。"

Igavehermyhand。Whatcomposinginfluencethissimpleactmay，ormaynot，haveexercised，itisimpossibletosay。Shewasquiet，shewassilent。Afteraninterval，Iheardherbreathealong—drawnsighofrelief。

"IamafraidIhavesurprisedyou，"shesaid。"Helenabringsthedreadfultimebacktome——"Shestoppedandshuddered。

"Don’tspeakofHelena，mydear。"

"ButIamafraidyouwillthink——becauseIhavesaidstrangethings——thatIhavebeentalkingatrandom，"sheinsisted。"Thedoctorwillsaythat，ifyoumeetwithhim。HebelievesIamdeludedbyadream。Itriedtothinksomyself。Itwasofnouse；

Iamquitesureheiswrong。"

Iprivatelydeterminedtowatchforthedoctor’sarrival，andtoconsultwithhim。Eunicewenton：

"Ihavethestoryofaterriblenighttotellyou；butIhaven’tthecouragetotellitnow。Whyshouldn’tyoucomebackwithmetotheplacethatIamstayingat？Apleasantfarm—house，andsuchkindpeople。Youmightreadtheaccountofthatnightinmyjournal。Ishallnotregretthemiseryofhavingwrittenit，ifithelpsyoutofindouthowthishatefulsecondselfofminehascometome。Hush！Iwanttoaskyousomething。DoyouthinkHelenaisinthehouse？"

"No——shehasgoneout。"

"Didshesaythatherself？Areyousure？"

"Quitesure。"

Shedecidedongoingbacktothefarm，whileHelenawasoutoftheway。Weleftthegardentogether。Forthefirsttime，mycompanionnoticedtheportfolio。Ihappenedtobecarryingitinthehandthatwasnearesttoher，asshewalkedbymyside。

"Wheredidyougetthat？"sheasked。

Itwasneedlesstoreplyinwords。Myhesitationspokeforme。

"Carryitinyourotherhand，"shesaid——"thehandthat’sfurthestawayfromme。Idon’twanttoseeit！DoyoumindwaitingamomentwhileIfindSelina？Youwillgotothefarmwithus，won’tyou？"

Ihadtolookovertheletters，inEunice’sowninterests；andI

beggedhertoletmedefermyvisittothefarmuntilthenextday。Sheconsented，aftermakingmepromisetokeepmyappointment。Itwasofsomeimportancetoher，shetoldme，thatIshouldmakeacquaintancewiththefarmerandhiswifeandchildren，andtellherhowIlikedthem。Herplansforthefuturedependedonwhatthosegoodpeoplemightbewillingtodo。Whenshehadrecoveredherhealth，itwasimpossibleforhertogohomeagainwhileHelenaremainedinthehouse。Shehadresolvedtoearnherownliving，ifshecouldgetemploymentasagoverness。Thefarmer’schildrenlikedher；shehadalreadyhelpedtheirmotherinteachingthem；andtherewasreasontohopethattheirfatherwouldseehiswaytoemployingherpermanently。HishouseofferedthegreatadvantageofbeingnearenoughtothetowntoenablehertohearnewsoftheMinister’sprogresstowardrecovery，andtoseehimherselfwhensafeopportunitiesoffered，fromtimetotime。Asforhersalary，whatdidshecareaboutmoney？Anythingwouldbeacceptable，ifthegoodmanwouldonlyrealizeherhopesforthefuture。

Itwasdishearteningtohearthathope，atherage，beganandendedwithinsuchnarrowlimitsasthese。Noprudentmanwouldhavetriedtopersuadeher，asInowdid，thattheideaofreconciliationofferedthebetterhopeofthetwo。

"SupposeIseeMr。PhilipDunboynewhenIgobacktoLondon，"I

began，"whatshallIsaytohim？"

"SayIhaveforgivenhim。"

"Andsuppose，"Iwenton，"thattheblamereallyrests，whereyouallbelieveittorest，withHelena。Ifthatyoungmanreturnstoyou，trulyashamedofhimself，trulypenitent，willyou——？"

Sheresolutelyinterruptedme："No！"

"Oh，Eunice，yousurelymeanYes？"

"ImeanNo！"

"Why？"

"Don’taskme！Good—bytillto—morrow。"

CHAPTERXLII。

THEQUAINTPHILOSOPHER。

Nopersoncametomyroom，andnothinghappenedtointerruptmewhileIwasreadingMr。PhilipDunboyne’sletters。

Oneofthem，letmesayatonce，producedaverydisagreeableimpressiononme。IhaveunexpectedlydiscoveredMrs。

Tenbruggen——inapostscript。SheismakingalivingasaMedicalRubber（orMasseuse），andisinprofessionalattendanceonMr。

Dunboynetheelder。Moreofthis，alittlefurtheron。

HavinggonethroughthewholecollectionofyoungDunboyne’sletters，Isetmyselftoreviewthedifferingconclusionswhichthecorrespondencehadproducedonmymind。

Icallthepaperssubmittedtomeacorrespondence，becausethegreaterpartofPhilip’slettersexhibitnotesinpencil，evidentlyaddedbyHelena。Theseexpress，forthemostpart，theinterpretationwhichshehadplacedonpassagesthatperplexedordispleasedher；andtheyhave，asPhilip’srejoindersshow，beenemployedasmaterialswhenshewroteherreplies。

Onreflection，Ifindmyselftroubledbycomplexitiesandcontradictionsintheviewpresentedofthisyoungman’scharacter。TodecidepositivelywhetherIcanjustifytomyselfandtomyregardforEunice，anattempttoreunitethelovers，requiresmoretimeforconsiderationthanIcanreasonablyexpectthatHelena’spatiencewillallow。Havingaquiethourortwostillbeforeme，Ihavedeterminedtomakeextractsfromthelettersformyownuse；withtheintentionofreferringtothemwhileIamstillindoubtwhichwaymydecisionoughttoincline。

Ishallpresentthemhere，tospeakforthemselves。Isthereanyobjectiontothis？NonethatIcansee。

Inthefirstplace，thoseextractshaveavalueoftheirown。

Theyaddnecessaryinformationtothepresenthistoryofevents。

Inthesecondplace，IamundernoobligationtoMr。Gracedieu’sdaughterwhichforbidsmetomakeuseofherportfolio。ItoldherthatIonlyconsentedtoreceiveit，underreserveofmyownrightofaction——andherassenttothatstipulationwasexpressedintheclearestterms。

EXTRACTSFROMMR。PHILIPDUNBOYNE’SLETTERS。

FirstExtract。

Youblameme，dearHelena，fornothavingpaidproperattentiontothequestionsputtomeinyourlastletter。Ihaveonlybeenwaitingtomakeupmymind，beforeIreplied。

Firstquestion：DoIthinkitadvisablethatyoushouldwritetomyfather？No，mydear；Ibegyouwilldeferwriting，untilyouhearfrommeagain。

Secondquestion：Consideringthatheisstillastrangertoyou，isthereanyharminyouraskingmewhatsortofmanmyfatheris？Noharm，mysweetone；but，asyouwillpresentlysee，Iamafraidyouhaveaddressedyourselftothewrongperson。

Myfatheriskind，inhisownoddway——andlearned，andrich——amorehigh—mindedandhonorableman（asIhaveeveryreasontobelieve）doesn’tlive。Butifyouaskmewhichheprefers，hisbooksorhisson，IhopeIdohimnoinjusticewhenIanswer，hisbooks。HisreadingandhiswritingareobstaclesbetweenuswhichIhaveneverbeenabletoovercome。Thisisthemoretoberegrettedbecauseheischarming，onthefewoccasionswhenI

findhimdisengaged。IfyouwishIknewmoreaboutmyfather，weareincompleteagreementasusual——Iwish，too。

Butthereisadearfriendofyoursandmine，whoisjustthepersonwewanttohelpus。NeedIsaythatIalludetoMrs。

Staveley？

Icalledonheryesterday，notlongaftershehadpaidavisittomyfather。Luckhadfavoredher。Shearrivedjustatthetimewhenhungerhadobligedhimtoshutuphisbooks，andringforsomethingtoeat。Mrs。Staveleysecuredafavorablereceptionwithhercustomarytactanddelicacy。Hehadafowlforhisdinner。Sheknowshisweaknessofold；shevolunteeredtocarveitforhim。

IfIcanonlyrepeatwhatthiscleverwomantoldmeoftheirtalk，youwillhaveaportraitofMr。Dunboynetheelder——notperhapsahighly—finishedpicture，but，asIhopeandbelieve，agoodlikeness。

Mrs。Staveleybeganbycomplainingtohimoftheconductofhisson。Ihadpromisedtowritetoher，andIhadneverkeptmyword。Shehadreasonsforbeingespeciallyinterestedinmyplansandprospects，justthen；knowingmetobeattached（pleasetakenoticethatIamquotingherownlanguage）toacharmingfriendofhers，whomIhadfirstmetatherhouse。ToaggravatethedisappointmentthatIhadinflicted，theyoungladyhadneglectedher，too。Noletters，noinformation。Perhapsmyfatherwouldkindlyenlightenher？Wastheaffairgoingon？orwasitbrokenoff？

Myfatherheldouthisplateandaskedfortheotherwingofthefowl。"Itisn’tabadoneforLondon，"hesaid；"won’tyouhavesomeyourself？"

"Idon’tseemtohaveinterestedyou，"Mrs。Staveleyremarked。

"Whatdidyouexpectmetobeinterestedin？"myfatherinquired。

"Iwasabsorbedinthefowl。Favormebyreturningtothesubject。"

Mrs。Staveleyadmitsthatsheansweredthisrathersharply："Thesubject，sir，wasyourson’sadmirationforacharminggirl：oneofthedaughtersofMr。Gracedieu，thefamouspreacher。"

Myfatheristoowell—bredtospeaktoaladywhilehisattentionisabsorbedbyafowl。Hefinishedthesecondwing，andthenheaskedif"Philipwasengagedtobemarried。"

"Iamnotquitesure，"Mrs。Staveleyconfessed。

"Then，mydearfriend，wewillwaittillwe_are_sure。"

"But，Mr。Dunboyne，thereisreallynoneedtowait。Isupposeyoursoncomeshere，nowandthen，toseeyou？"

"Mysonismostattentive。Incourseoftimehewillcontrivetohitontherighthourforhisvisit。Atpresent，poorfellow，heinterruptsmeeveryday。"

"Supposehehitsupontherighttimeto—morrow？"

"Yes？"

"Youmightaskhimifheisengaged？"

"Pardonme。IthinkImightwaittillPhilipmentionsitwithoutasking。"

"Whatanextraordinarymanyouare！"

"Oh，no，no——onlyaphilosopher。"

ThistriedMrs。Staveley’stemper。Youknowwhataperfectlycandidpersonourfriendis。Sheownedtomethatshefeltinclinedtomakeherselfdisagreeable。"That’sthrownawayuponme，"shesaid："Idon’tknowwhataphilosopheris。"

Letmepauseforamoment，dearHelena。Ihaveinexcusablyforgottentospeakofmyfather’spersonalappearance。Itwon’ttakelong。Ineedonlynoticeoneinterestingfeaturewhich，sotospeak，liftshisfaceoutofthecommon。Hehasaneloquentnose。Personspossessingthisrareadvantageareblestwithpowersofexpressionnotgrantedtotheirordinaryfellow—creatures。Myfather’snoseisamineofinformationtofriendsfamiliarlyacquaintedwithit。Itchangescolorlikeamodestyounglady’scheek。Itworksflexiblyfromsidetosideliketherudderofaship。Onthepresentoccasion，Mrs。Staveleysawitshifttowardtheleft—handsideofhisface。Asighescapedthepoorlady。Experiencetoldherthatmyfatherwasgoingtoholdforth。

"Youdon’tknowwhataphilosopheris！"herepeated。"BesokindastolookatMe。Iamaphilosopher。"

Mrs。Staveleybowed。

"Andaphilosopher，mycharmingfriend，isamanwhohasdiscoveredasystemoflife。Somesystemsassertthemselvesinvolumes——mysystemassertsitselfintwowords：Neverthinkofanythinguntilyouhavefirstaskedyourselfifthereisanabsolutenecessityfordoingit，atthatparticularmoment。

Thinkingofthings，whenthingsneedn’tbethoughtof，isofferinganopportunitytoWorry；andWorryisthefavoriteagentofDeathwhenthedestroyerhandleshisworkinalingeringway，andachievesprematureresults。Neverlookback，andneverlookforward，aslongasyoucanpossiblyhelpit。Lookingbackleadsthewaytosorrow。Andlookingforwardendsinthecruelestofalldelusions：itencourageshope。Thepresenttimeistheprecioustime。Liveforthepassingday：thepassingdayisallthatwecanbesureof。Yousuggested，justnow，thatIshouldaskmysonifhewasengagedtobemarried。HowdoweknowwhatwearandtearofyournervoustextureIsucceededinsavingwhenIsaid。’WaittillPhilipmentionsitwithoutasking？’Thereisthepersonalapplicationofmysystem。Ihaveexplaineditinmytimetoeverywomanonthelistofmyacquaintance，includingthefemaleservants。Notoneofthemhasrewardedmebyadoptingmysystem。Howdoyoufeelaboutit？"

Mrs。Staveleydeclinedtotellmewhethershehadofferedabrightexampleofgratitudetotherestofthesex。WhenIaskedwhy，shedeclaredthatitwasmyturnnowtotellherwhatIhadbeendoing。

Youwillanticipatewhatfollowed。Sheobjectedtothemysteryinwhichmyprospectsseemedtobeinvolved。InplainEnglish，wasI，orwasInot，engagedtomarryherdearEunice？Isaid，No。

WhatelsecouldIsay？IfIhadtoldMrs。Staveleythetruth，whensheinsistedonmyexplainingmyself，shewouldhavegonebacktomyfather，andwouldhaveappealedtohissenseofjusticetoforbidourmarriage。Findingmeobstinatelysilent，shehasdecidedonwritingtoEunice。Soweparted。Butdon’tbedisheartened。Onmywayoutofthehouse，ImetMr。Staveleycomingin，andhadalittletalkwithhim。Heandhiswifeandhisfamilyaregoingtotheseaside，nextweek。Mrs。Staveleyonceoutofourway，Icantellmyfatherofourengagementwithoutanyfearofconsequences。Ifshewritestohim，themomentheseesmynamementioned，andfindsviolentlanguageassociatedwithit，hewillhandthelettertome。"Yourbusiness，Philip：don’tinterruptme。"Hewillsaythat，andgobacktohisbooks。Thereismyfather，paintedtothelife！

Farewell，forthepresent。

RemarksbyH。G。——Philip’sgraceandgayetyofstylemightbeenviedbyanyprofessionalAuthor。Heamusesme，butherousesmysuspicionatthesametime。Thisslipperyloverofminetellsmetodeferwritingtohisfather，andgivesnoreasonforofferingthatstrangeadvicetotheyoungladywhoissoontobeamemberofthefamily。Isthismerelyonemoreinstanceoftheweaknessofhischaracter？Or，nowthatheisawayfrommyinfluence，ishebeginningtoregretEunicealready？

AddedbytheGovernor。——Itoohavemydoubts。IstheflippantnonsensewhichPhiliphaswritteninspiredbytheeffervescentgoodspiritsofahappyyoungman？Orisitassumedforapurpose？Inthislattercase，IshouldgladlyconcludethathewasregardinghisconducttoEunicewithbecomingemotionsofsorrowandshame。